Twenty20 qualifier could pitch brother against brother

Paul Radley

• Last Updated: February 07. 2010 10:14PM UAE / February 7. 2010 6:14PM GMT

Sudesh Dhaniram, representing the USA, and brother Sunil, of Canada, during a recent net session at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium ahead of the World Twenty20 qualifier. Pawan Singh / The National

DUBAI // Dismissing Kevin Pietersen in a World Cup match would represent the pinnacle of achievement for many an international bowler, let alone one who only took up cricket late in life, having originally planned to earn his money as a welder.

Yet for Sunil Dhaniram there is one scalp still out there which might give him even greater satisfaction than that of England’s finest, whom he picked up in St Lucia in 2007.

If the fates allow it, the United States and Canada could advance from their groups to meet each other in the Super Four of the World Twenty20 qualifier, which starts in the UAE tomorrow.

Which would mean Dhaniram, Canada’s canny spin-bowler, will come into direct conflict with his brother, America’s opening batsman, Sudesh Dhaniram.

There will be no quarter given between them if the two players line-up against each other, even though Sunil admits he owes his elder sibling a large debt of gratitude.

“He was the one who really got me into cricket,” said Sunil, a 41-year-old left-arm spinner who earned Canadian citizenship in 2005.

“I wanted to go out all the time, but he was always very focused on his cricket training.

“He always used to tell me: ‘Cricket likes you, not the other way round’. I played for my under 15 side at school, then stopped as I wanted to learn a trade.

“I only started playing seriously again when I was 18. I used to have to bowl at him for hours and hours.”

Brother Sudesh, two years Sunil’s senior, was already carving out his own successful first-class career for Guyana, which later brought him a call-up to the West Indies A side.

“We never played against each other at school, as he only started playing cricket quite late,” added Sudesh, who opened the batting for Guyana alongside Clayton Lambert, who is now his coach in the US national team.

“I used to take him around with me when I played for Guyana. We went to Canada together for a year. He stayed but I preferred America and wanted to go and live there.”

Sudesh now lives in Queens in New York. He remains so focused on excelling at the sport he loves that even the inclement winter weather has not managed to stop him from preparing for his adopted nation’s trip to the emirates.

“There are quite a few indoor nets in the area,” added Sudesh, who has two other younger brothers – “they carry the bags” – as well as two sisters.

“You would be surprised how popular cricket is in America.”

The two nations which reach the final of this competition will advance to the main event in the West Indies, with some group matches set to be staged in the brothers’ native Guyana.

“That would be so great, having the chance to go back and see my old crowd and play in front of them,” said the Toronto-based Sunil.

He already has happy memories of playing on the world stage. At the 50-over version of the World Cup, which was also staged in the Caribbean three years ago, he was Canada’s star when they faced the professionals from England.

“I remember it clearly, First I got Ian Bell, then Ed Joyce. Then it was the big one, Kevin Pietersen. He was the No 1 player in the world. I was over the moon.”

Next victim: Sudesh Dhaniram. “Hopefully I will get to bowl at him.

“We started out together, and I always want to get the better of him.”

pradley@thenational.ae